Conflict

U.S.-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

CS1877

Location

هجين, Hajin, Deir Ezzor, Syria

Geolocation

34.6897222, 40.83
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

(Previous Incident Code: S1752)

Local sources reported the killing of the Basem Al-Hussein family as a result of artillery shelling on the town of Hajin. The bodies of eight named family members were allegedly pulled from the rubble, mostly women and an unknown number of children.

All sources reported on the incident on December 21st, but the exact date of the incident is unknown. Baladi News was the only source that reported the family members had died “a few days ago” as a result of bombings by SDF on Hajin town.

While some sources blamed the SDF, others blamed the Coalition which appears the most likely culprit given the SDF’s known lack of artillery during the Hajin Pocket offensive.

In its December 2020 monthly civilian casualty report, the Coalition assessed this event as ‘non credible’, claiming that “The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to assess its credibility.”

Victims

Family members (8)

Nawal Al-Dakak
Adult female Wife killed
Shahed Al Hussein
female killed
Rou’a of Hussein
female killed
Ragad Al Hussein
female killed
Najah Ahmed
Adult female Wife killed
Oudai Al Hussein
male killed
Aysha Al Hussein
female killed
Fawzia Al Hussein
female killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Artillery
Strike Status
Likely strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Civilians reported killed
8
1–7 Children, 7 Women, 1 Man

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hajin (هجين), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.6897222, 40.83. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

U.S.-led Coalition Assessment
Suspected belligerent
U.S.-led Coalition
U.S.-led Coalition position on incident
Non credible / Unsubstantiated
Reason for non-credible assessment
Insufficient information on the time and location
Civilian deaths conceded
None
Civilian injuries conceded
None
Stated location
in Hajin, Syria
MGRS coordinate
37SFU676401
U.S.-led Coalition Strike Report
NOTE: In late December 2019, the US-led Coalition ended its 52-month record of reporting the dates and locations of its strikes. Between Dec. 16 and Dec. 29, CJTF-OIR conducted 469 strikes consisting of 1,001 engagements in Syria, and conducted nine strikes consisting of 14 engagements in Iraq. In Syria, 469 strikes engaged 666 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 291 fighting positions, 153 staging areas, 67 supply routes, 27 command and control nodes, 27 petroleum oil lubricant storage facilities, 25 vehicles, 14 tunnels, 14 weapons cache, 13 improvised explosive device facilities, seven heavy weapons systems, six pieces of heavy equipment, seven buildings, five petroleum oil and lubricant tankers, five bridges, four armored vehicles, two caves, two vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, two motorcycles, two vehicle borne improvised explosive device facilities, three mortar launching sites, one boat, one barge, and one unmanned aircraft system; and damaged seven fighting positions, four staging areas, two vehicles, one armored vehicle, one command and control node and one heavy weapon system; and suppressed 70 fighting positions, 12 vehicles, 10 staging areas and one armored vehicles.
French Military Strike Report
For Dec 19th-25th, France reports 13 airstrikes in Syria and 18 artillery strikes in the Euphrates Valley.
Dutch Military Strike Report
In the last 10 days of the year, 15 missions were flown. Weapons were deployed ten times and targeted ISIS fighting positions and warehouses.
UK Military Strike Report
Friday 21 December – a Reaper engaged a group of Daesh extremists south-east of Hajin, whilst Tornados struck two workshops making IEDs...Further support was rendered on Friday 21 December by a Reaper and another flight of Tornados. The Reaper’s crew successfully used a Hellfire missile against a small group of Daesh as they moved across country, whilst the Tornados destroyed two workshops which were producing improvised explosive devices.
U.S.-led Coalition Civilian Casualty Statement
2020-12-15
Original Source
Dec. 18, 2018, in Hajin, Syria, via Airwars report. The allegation provided insufficient detail to identify a specific date, time, or location to assess its credibility. 3258/CS1877 37SFU676401